JUDGMENT

Saurabh Banerjee, J. As per petitioners, the `Sashastra Seema Bal' [Hereinafter referred to as "SSB"], earlier known as `Special Service Bureau', was raised under the Cabinet Secretariat for guarding the bordering states of India right after the Indo-China War of 1962. As per the then procedure, the seniority of the lower ranking personnel was being fixed at the Battalion level to accord promotions.

2. Pursuant to the recommendation of the 5th Central Pay Commission [Hereinafter referred to as "CPC"], accepted by the Government of India, the Ministry of Home Affairs [Hereinafter referred to as "MHA"] vide order No. 27012/1/97-PC Cell/PF.1 dated 10.10.1997, abolished the rank(s) of Lance Naik and Naik and merged them with the rank(s) of Constable and Head Constable respectively in all the Central Police Organizations, including the SSB. As such, the Central Industrial Security Force [Hereinafter referred to as "CISF"] carried out the necessary modifications in its Recruitment Rules to exclude the rank of Lance Naik and Naik.

3. Thereafter, vide order No.1/2/2011-EA.I-133 dated 15.01.2001, the Cabinet Secretariat, Government of India permanently transferred SSB (then `Sp